Apr-2023
Scandinavia Itinerary for Families
Back in June of 2022, we spent roughly 3 weeks exploring Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Below is an itinerary to jumpstart your own Scandinavian adventures!
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (3-5 Days)
We flew into Copenhagen and kicked off our Scandinavian trip in this amazing city. The Danish capital is that and more: a buzzing north European metropolis, home to unique architecture, achingly cool design, Michelin-starred restaurants, waterfront bars, museums, flea markets and parks, all within easy walking distance. So unleash your inner hygge!
What we saw: (We Purchased the 4-day Copenhagen Card and packed in as much as we could. Our fifth day was spent doing non-museum activiites.)
• National Museum of Denmark
• Tivoli Gardens
• Christiansborg Palace
• Rundetårn
• Rosenborg Castle
• Amalienborg
• Canal Cruise
• Nyhavn
• Kastellet
• Christiania
• Meatpacking District
• Broens Gadekøkken
Day trips from Copenhagen:
• Roskilde Viking Ship Museum
• Roskilde Cathedral
What we wished we had time to see/do:
• Rent bikes
• Kronborg Castle
GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN (1-2 Days)
Home to design academy Volvo and Gothenburg International Film Festival, discover the top 10 things you can’t miss in the city. Have a coffee at the highest tower; visit a tropical rainforest; shop for vintage clothes in Haga district; or try local fish specialities at Feskekörka fish market. While Gothenburg was interesting, I would suggest to visiting Stockholm as the first option and Gothenburg has a second option. Since we visited Stockholm back in 2018, we decided to just stop for a quick 24hrs in Sweden at an important seaport town, Gothenburg. (You will need 3-5 full days in Stockholm to see everything. See our past trip here.) Gothenburg could be done in 1-2 days.
What we saw:
• Skansen Kronan
• Café Husaren
• The Market Hall
Day trips from Gothenburg:
We only spent 24 hours in Gothenburg so we didn’t do any day trips.
What we wished we had time to see/do:
• Volvo Museum
OSLO, NORWAY (2-4 Days)
From crystalline fjords to contemporary art galleries, Oslo melds Nordic nature with cosmopolitan draws. It might not be the cheapest city in Europe, but there’s a certain magnetic charm to Norway’s capital. Also, purchase the Oslo Pass to save money on museums and transportation.
What we saw:
• The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
• Gol Stave Church
• The Fram Museum
• Kon-Tiki Museum
• Norwegian Maritime Museum
• Akershus Fortress
• Norway Resistance Museum
• Walk the grounds of the Oslo Opera House
Day trips from Oslo:
We didn’t do any day trips outside of Oslo.
What we wished we had time to see/do:
• Viking Ship Museum (Unfortunately, it was closed due to remodeling during our visit.)
• The Vigeland Park
BERGEN (2-3 Days)
Once the largest city in the Nordic countries, and the capital of Norway Norway throughout some of the country’s most influential periods, today Bergen is the second-largest city in the country. A past seat of the Hanseatic League, Bergen still plays an important economic and cultural role as the picturesque city in between the seven mountains and breathtaking fjords.
What we saw:
• Historical Bryggen Hanseatic Wharf
• Sverresborg Fortress
• Mount Floyen + Funicular
Day trips from Bergen:
• Fjord Cruise
• Stegastein Viewpoint
• Lærdalstunnelen
What we wished we had time to see/do:
• Hanseatic Museum
• Bergenhus Fortress
• Fantoft Stave Church
BALESTRAND (1-2 Days)
After visiting Oslo and Bergen it’s important to go off the beaten path a little and spend time admiring the fjord villages. We choose Balestrand to get a true Norwegian experience.
Spanning 126 miles, Sognefjord is the deepest and longest fjord in Norway, and the third-longest in the world. It was an important trading route during the Viking era because it connected the villages of Bergen and Sognefjord. Our stay in Balestrand was the perfect ending to our visit to Norway and was spoiled by this amazing scenic village. We only had one full day in Balestrand and truly a little gem of the fjords!
What we saw: (See full Balestrand post here.)
• St. Olaf’s Church
• Swam in the fjord
• Explore the Viking graves
• Walk the Heritage Trail
• Kviknes Hotel
Day trips from Balestrand:
• Borgund Stave Church (We actually stopped here on our drive back to Oslo.)
What we wished we had time to see/do:
• Ciderhuset
• Glacier Museum
Hope this Itinerary has helped you plan your own trip through Scandinavia!
(Disclosure: Burbs2Abroad traveled to the above location as guests and was not compensated for this review. As always, our opinions are our own.)
Time of Year Visited: June 2022
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